[youtube id=”pNj9bXKGOiI”] Luther Vandross wrote, performed and produced “Never Too Much” from his 1981 debut album of the same name. Vandross’s honeyed tenor immediately set the standards for a scene of male R&B stars that included singers like James Ingram and Teddy Pendergrass. His warm tone had a familiarity that made fans accurately identify him as the greatest balladeer ever after hearing his version of “A House Is Not A Home” from the album. Vandross had previously worked as a background singer for several artists including Better Midler, David Bowie, Chaka Khan and others before he was the lead singer of the group Change. “Never Too Much” introduced him to an international audience as a solo artist and made it to the top spot on the R&B charts. Never Too Much was the beginning of Luther Vandross’s legend that ended too soon when he passed away in 2005.Â
